Cabinet mounting for cash registers, accounting
and like machines



ug 1965 E. P. KUHLMANN 3,199,936

7 CABINET MOUNTING FOR CASH REGISTERS, ACCOUNTING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed Nov. 26, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EMIL P. KUHLMANN HIS ATTORNEYS Aug. 10, 1965 E. P. KUHLMANN 3,199,936

CABINET MOUNTING FOR CASH REGISTERS, ACCOUNTING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed NOV. 26, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 R EMIL P. KUHLMANN HIS ATTORNEYS 9 v E. P. KUHLMANN CABINET MOUNTING FOR CASH REGISTERS, ACCOUNTING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed NOV. 26, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.3

/ lOb HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent a 10 Claims. (51. 312-208) This invention relates generally to improved means permitting the cabinet or housing of a cash register, accounting, or like machine to be mounted in the absence of retaining screws or similar cabinet-engaging fixing members. More particularly, the invention relates to a unique construction enabling a cabinet front and a cabinet back section to be removably attached along continguous edges and thence have the assembly of such attached sections clamped against a framework portion of the machine proper; all being done in the matter of seconds and without the use of any specific tools.

With this in mind, it is clear that the primary object of the instant invention is aimed at the screwless fixing of a machine cabinet.

A further object of the instant invention resides in the construction of a machine cabinet in and of itself having the various means necessary for affixing same on the machine.

Still a further object lies in the provision of a machine cabinet which can be both mounted and removed in an combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which form a part of the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective View of a machine of the type which might employ the improved cabinet mounting of the instant invention, being a cash register for disclosure purposes of the now presented application;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken adjacent and looking toward the inner side of the right side wall of the machine cabinet illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view in section of a fragmentary front portion of the machine cabinet of FIG. 1, being taken a distance to the left of the further illustration thereof in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is a view in section taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cabinet of the instant machine is designated generally by the numeral 10 and rests upon a lower base member 11, such base member being, for purposes of the present disclosure, the upper part of the typical housing employed for carrying at least one extractable cash drawer 12. Although not illustrated in such FIG. 1, the framework of the instant machine includes, as understood from FIG. 3, a lower base plate 13 supporting a pair of upstanding right and left side frames 14 and 15. The base plate 13 itself is secured to the base member 11 and, as per machines of this type, numerous cam and mechanism supporting shafts extend between the spaced side frames 14 and 15. An example of one ice such shaft is a main cam shaft 16 illustrated in FIG. 1, which is journaled within such side frames and which is the prime mover during each machine operation of the various mechanisms employed in the machine construction.

Looking now to FIG. 2, it is seen that the machine cabinet 10 is actually made up of a pair of individual casing or other mould-type members, in particular being a cabinet front section flila and a cabinet rear section 105. T o insure that each of such cabinet sections 10a and 10b rests squarely upon the above-mentioned base member 11, the lower edge thereof is appropriately formed so as to provide spaced-apart nodules 10c therearound.

Lateral positioning of the cabinet front section 10a with respect to the base member '11 is by means of a cabinet rib and base plate groove interconnection (FIGS. 7 and 8). As illustrated in FIG. 7, a vertical rib 17 extends along the inner surface of the frontmost wall of the cabinet front section 149a and, when properly coordinated therewith (FIG. 8), is received slidingly within a companion groove 18 provided at a precise zone along the front most edge of the machine framework lower base plate 13. This arrangement, it is clear, permits the cabinet front section ltla to be first placed on the base member 11 and thence quickly and easily aligned thereon by sliding same rearwardly until such rib 17 and groove 18 interconnection is made. As is illustrated, the lower extremity of the cabinet rib 17 falls short of contacting the upper surface of base member 11 by that distance defined by the length of the cabinet nodules 10c; hence such rib not in any way attempting to help such nodules support the weight of the cabinet front section 10a. Lateral positioning of the cabinet rear section 10b with respect to such base member 11, and also with respect to the cabinet front section ltla, is likewise by means of a rib and groove arrangement (FIGS. 3 and 6). As illustrated, a vertical rib 19 of the cabinet rear section 1% is slidingly received within a groove 20 provided adjacent the rearrnost edge of the machine framework lower base plate 13; such groove in this instance being within a base plate upstanding -lug 13a. Again, for the reasons stated above, the lower extremity of this rib 19 likewise falls short of contacting the upper surface of such base plate 13.

Interconnection between the several cabinet sections 16a and 10b is best understood from FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the overall width of the cabinet front section ltia is slightly less than that of the companion cabinet rear section 1012. This permits, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the contiguous edges of such several sections Illa and 10b to be easily interlocked by having opposing flanges thereof received one behind the other. For the purpose of the present disclosure, the cabinet front section 10a is provided with an outwardly extending flange 21 along the major length of each of its several rear edges. At the same time, the cabinet rear section 1612 is flanged inwardly at 22 along each of its several front edgesbeing of a semi-dovetail configuration as shown in FIG. 5. With this overall arrangement, it is clear that the cabinet front sec-tion lba may first be aligned on the base member 11 as described above, after which the cabinet rear section 16b may be attached thereto by engaging its flanges 22 behind and sliding same downwardly along the companion flanges 21 of such cabinet front section ltla. That is, with the cabinet front section 1th; properly aligned and resting upon the base member 11, the lowermost edges of the several flanges 22 of the cabinet rear section 10b may be positioned over the cabinet front section flanges 21 and the whole of such cabinet rear section thence lowered until its nodules 10c likewise come into contact with such base member 11. Of course, automatic lateral alignment of such cabinet rear section 10b is had as the rib 1 thereof enters within the base plate groove 20 (FIG. 3). This, it is clear, properly aligns each of the cabinet sections 19a and 101; With respect to themselves and to the .base member 11 at the time that the contiguous edges of such cabinet sections (rear side of section 10a and front side of section 10b) are interconnected one to another. A further alignment between the cabinet sections 10a and 10b themeselves is had at this time as an upper rear edge 23 of the cabinet front section lfia is received slidingly within a groove 24 provided along the upper front edge of the cabinet rear section 10b (FIG. 2)-this interconnection taking place at approximately the time the above-described lateral alignment is had for the cabinet rear section ltib (again see FIGS. 3 and 6).

' To insure that the just-described interconnection between such cabinet sections ltia and 10b is maintained at all times (such, for example, as during extremely rough handling of the machine while in shipment, during extremely rough handling of the machine while in use, and even should, for one reason or another, a bowing of one or both of such cabinet sections Mia and 10b be encountered and which tends to spread the interconnecting flanges 21 and 22), each side of the cabinet front section 10a is provided with a pair of hook members 25 of that shape to fit snugly Within the precise configuration of the cabinet rear section flange 22that is, having formed end portions 25a (FIG. 4) which extend beyond the cabinet front section 10a and actually enter Within the semidovetail portion of the flange 22 along the cabinet rear section ltib. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the hook members 25 of each pair are arranged along the cabinet front section 19a at precise zones thereof defined by the absence of a flanged portion 21. This permits, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the hook member end portion 25a to replace such cabinet section flange 21 at several spaced-apart zones along each side of the overall interconnection between the cabinet section Ida and 1%, in turn securely locking each of such sections 10a and 1011 against independent lateral movement when once the whole of the cabinet 10 is so completed and brought to rest against the base member 11.

When once this has been completedthat is, the cabinet front section 10a is positioned on the base member 11 and the cabinet rear section 1% is slidingly interconnected therewith and likewise so positioned on the base member 11 (with the nodules ltic supporting the overall Weight of each of such sections, as illustrated in FIG. 2), it is clear that the sole movement then permitted to the overall cabinet 10 is in a direction upwardly and away from the base member 11. Due to the rib and groove interconnection between each cabinet section and the machine framework base plate 13 at this time, the overall cabinet 10 is precisely aligned on the supporting base member 11 and neither side nor end travel is permitted with respect thereto.

J ournaled Within the machine framework right and left side frames 14 and 15 is a cabinet maintenance shaft 26, being of a length'slightly less than the overall width of the machine cabinet 10 (FIG. 3) and being positioned so as to lie immediately behind the upper extremities of the cabinet section interconnecting flanges 21 and 22 (FIG. 2). Secured to each end of such shaft 26 is a cam,

10a, against the upper surface of the supporting base member 11. To insure against slippage of such cam segments 27 with respect to their associated lugs 28 when once the clamping arrangement therebetween has been completed, teeth 29 and the like are herein disclosed (FIG. 2) along the clamping edge of each cam segment 27, which effectively grip the associated lug 28 and prevent the maintenance shaft 26 from accidentally backingup When once the cabinet clamping operation has been completed thereby;

While any suitable means may be provided for rocking the shaft 26 to its cabinet clamping position in one instance, and, in a like manner, rocking same reversely for cabinet unclamping in another instance, the means herein disclosed makes use of a screw-driver slot provided in one end of such shaft 26 and an access opening 30 therefor in the cabinet rear section liib (FIGS. 1 and 3). This permits quick and easy manipulation'of the cabinet maintenance shaft 26 with nothing more than a small screw driver or like member fitting within the cabinet opening 30 and adapted to engage the shaft slot therebehind.

From the overall construction above described, it is to be understood that the several sections 10a and 10b of the instant cabinet ltlmay first be interconnected one to another and precisely aligned on the supporting base member 11, with the overall assembly thence firmly clamped against such base member IL-all being done in the mat ter of seconds and without the need of fixing screws and the like, It is also clear that a reversal in the described procedure enables quick and easy removal of the instant cabinet 19 from such base member 11.

While the present disclosure is admirably adapted to fulfill the object primarily stated, it is clear that various structural changes might easily'bemade in such things as the means for manipulating the cabinet maintenanceshaft 26 and in the precise arrangement and operation of the several cam segments *27 thereon, all without departing from the spirit of the instant invention. 'It is thus to be understood that the scope of the instant invention is intended to be limited only to that extent required by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

ll. Screwless cabinet structure for abusiness machine having a supporting base member and a mechanism carrying framework affixed thereto, comprising a machine-covering cabinet front section; a machine-covering cabinet rear section; cabinet section carried means for interconnecting said cabinet front and rear sections along contiguous edge portions thereof; and manipulative means carried by said framework for engaging the assemblage of said interconnected cabinet front'and rear sections and clamping same against said base member.

2. The cabinet structure of claim 1 in which said interconnecting means comprises an outwardly directed flange along eachside edge of one of said cabinet sections being received slidingly behind a comp-anion inwardly directed flange along each side edge of the other of said cabinet sections.

3, The cabinet structure of claim 2 in which each flange of one of said cabinet sections is provided with a groove therealong; and a hook member adapted to engage said groove replaces in part each flange ofthe'other of said cabinet sections and engages said groove during cabinet section interconnection for maintaining flange egagement thereaften.

4. The cabinet structure of claim 1' in which said manipulative means comprises a cam segment carried by and mounted rockably with respect to said machine framework; a clamp lug on one. of said cabinet sections aligned With said cam segment; and means for rocking said cam segmentinto pressing engagement with said clampv lug segments; and means for rocking each of said cam segments into pressing engagement With its respective clamp "lug when once cabinet section interconnection has been completed, whereby said one of said cabinet sections directly and the other of said cabinet sections in view of its attachment therewith are effectively restrained against movement with respect to the machine supporting base member.

6. The cabinet structure of claim 5 including a cabinet maintenance shaft journaled within said machine framework; said earn segments are aflixed to each end of said maintenance shaft; and means is provided for rocking said maintenance shaft that extent enabling said cam segments thereon to continually press against their associated clamp lugs.

7. The cabinet structure of claim 5 in which said clamp lugs are provided on the inner sides of the cabinet rear section.

8. The cabinet structure of claim 6 including friction means for preventing non-manipulated slippage between said cam segments and their associated clamp lugs.

9. The cabinet structure of claim 8 in which said friction means comprises teeth on said cam segments adapted for biting into said clamp lugs.

10. In a screw-less cabinet for business machines and the like having a supporting base member and a mechanism carrying framework affixed thereto, the combination of a cabinet first sect-ion adapted to rest on said base member and cover over the front portion of said framework; means for aligning said cabinet first section on said base member; a cabinet second section adapted to rest on said base member and cover over the rear portion of said framework; means [or slidingly interconnecting said cabinet second seetion with said cabinet first section; and means for clamping said cabinet first and second sections when so interconnected at the cabinet first section aligned position against said machine supporting base member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,123,588 7/38 Luneke 220 2,192,862 3/40 Eagley 248-20 2,598,342 5/52 Boyden 24820 X 2,843,969 7/58 Nessel 2482O 2,973,602 3/61 Nessel 24820 2,984,382 5/61 Florsheim 220 3,118,246 1/64 Winter et al 312284 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. SCREWLESS CABINET STRUCTURE FOR A BUSINESS MACHINE HAVING A SUPPORTING BASE MEMBER AND A MECHANISM CARRYING FRAMEWORK AFFIXED THERETO, COMPRISING A MACHINE-COVERING CABINET FROM SECTION; A MACHINE-COVERING CABINET REAR SECTION; CABINET SECTION CARRIED MEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING SAID CABINET FRONT AND REAR SECTIONS ALONG CONTIGUOUS EDGE PORTIONS THEREOF; AND MANIPULATIVE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID FRAMEWORK FOR ENGAGING THE ASSEMBLAGE OF 